8/3/2014

Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days

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Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days

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OT Historical Books discuss Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days in the The Scriptures forums; For those of you who are strict six day creationists, how do you deal with Genesis 2:4 where: These are the generations of the heavens ...
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10-01-2013,

10:13 AM

#1

kvanlaan
Puritanboard Doctor

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Oct 2006 8,429

Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days

For those of you who are strict six day creationists, how do you deal with Genesis 2:4 where: These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, The 'day' is 'yom', the same as the 'day' reference in the second verse when it refers to the seventh 'day'. How to explain the difference?

Kevin, husband of a truly angelic woman, and father to twelve. Zion United Reformed Church of Sheffield Ontario, Canada

10-01-2013,

10:57 AM

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Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days

Bill The Baptist

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Mar 2011 1,460

Much like our own English word "day", yom can mean a literal 24 hour period, or it can mean an undetermined amount of time. The way in which to tell the difference is by context and by what accompanies it. In every case in the OT when the word "yom" is accompanied by numbers, it always refers to a literal day. The morning and the evening were the first day, etc. Old men like to say things like "In my day, we didn't have cellphones and computers" and day is understood to mean their youth. But you wouldn't say "In my first day" because the addition of a number or sequence changes the meaning. In the case of Genesis 2:4, yom is not accompanied by a number and refers to the totality of the creative act, which took six days and not one. Here is a good article that might help you further. http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PD...7-584_JETS.pdf

Bill Perkins Pitching my tent and building my altar FBC (SBC) Monticello, Utah "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:14

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10-01-2013,

12:48 PM

#3

kvanlaan
Puritanboard Doctor

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Oct 2006 8,429

Excellent answer, thank you.

Kevin, husband of a truly angelic woman, and father to twelve. Zion United Reformed Church of Sheffield Ontario, Canada

10-01-2013,

01:24 PM
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Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days

earl40
Puritanboard Junior

Quick follow up. What exactly is "These are the generations" mean. I can see the context in English appears to say this is "the time period", but is there a Hebrew equilivant in other writings in scripture or other Hebrew writings?

Earl, a man, married to a girl named Tina. Member of Willow Creek Church PCA in Winter Springs Florida.

10-01-2013,

01:41 PM
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#5
Mar 2005 4,035

Poimen
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In Hebrew there is something which we call a "collective noun." This is a noun that is singular in presentation but plural in its meaning. (If I remember correctly) one example of this is found in Isaiah 52:7 we read "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news..." The word 'feet' in Hebrew is singular but its collectively refers to the whole person or body (thus "feet") as it wouldn't make much sense to speak of "the foot of him." In this sense, the singular day in Genesis 2:4 can refer to, by way of summary, all of the days (6) in which creation took place.

Rev. Daniel Kok Pastor in the St. Lawrence Presbytery of the RPCNA Leduc, Alberta CANADA "What sort of pledge and how great is this of love towards us! Christ lives for us not for himself!" John Calvin, Commentary on the Hebrews (7:25)

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10-01-2013,

02:07 PM
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Genesis 2:4 - question on day vs. days

Bill The Baptist

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Originally Posted by earl40

Quick follow up. What exactly is "These are the generations" mean. I can see the context in English appears to say this is "the time period", but is there a Hebrew equilivant in other writings in scripture or other Hebrew writings?

The Hebrew word that is translated "generations" is "toledot", which is simply a means of dividing the narrative up into parts. Chapter one gives us a broad overview of creation, while chapter 2 verse 4 begins a section that deals specifically with the creation and fall of man. We see this used many times in Genesis, such as Genesis 5:1, 10:1, etc.

Bill Perkins Pitching my tent and building my altar FBC (SBC) Monticello, Utah "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:14

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10-01-2013,

11:37 PM

#7

kvanlaan
Puritanboard Doctor

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Oct 2006 8,429

All great answers, but one thing: in subsequent reading, I found that the construct of 'yom' is changed in Gen 2:4 to 'be'yom, thus changing the meaning of the word from 'day' (24 hours) to 'in the day of' - anyone else come across this?

Kevin, husband of a truly angelic woman, and father to twelve. Zion United Reformed Church of Sheffield Ontario, Canada

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10-02-2013,

02:28 AM

#8
Join Date: Posts: Sep 2012 77

nick
Puritanboard Freshman

Here are links to a couple scripture readings that would probably be of some help: Genesis 1 - LINK Genesis 2 - LINK He breaks down each chapter for about 15 minutes.

Nick CCRPC, RPCGA RP < PCA 1.5 years < New Calvinism Baptist 7 years < Southern Baptist 8 years < raised Catholic until 16 Texas

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